Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — The Ministry of Water and Electricity has approved SR2.05 billion for water and sanitary drainage projects in the Eastern Province, the Saudi Press Agency reported Friday. The approval follows the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, aiming to boost comprehensive development in the country by providing advanced services for water and sanitary drainage projects in various Saudi regions. The project comes within the state budget for 2013 (1434-1435H), and every aspect of the project will be carried out within this budget. They include studies, design and implementation. An amount of SR820 million has been earmarked for supervision, SR80 million to set up buildings and SR150 million to establish a water treatment plant and a power project for Al-Eqair tourism area project. The Saline Water Conversion Corporation's budget has an outlay of SR210 million to carry out Al-Eqair desalination plant and SR13 million to set up a school at the desalination plant in Al-Khobar. These amounts will be added to the cost of projects currently under construction in the province. About 101 contracts were signed for a number of projects, works and operation and maintenance programs for several existing utilities in the Eastern Province during the fiscal year 2012 (1433/1434H) at a cost of SR1.15 billion. On Thursday, the Eastern Province Mayoralty announced the allocation of SR1.1 billion for several municipal projects in the province. These include 62 projects for roads, drainage, public utility and beautification, besides those for carrying out design work in Dammam and other cities in the region.
